Older HIV+ adults to overtake younger patients by 2040 - Lancet report
A new report from The Lancet projects that the number of people living with HIV aged 50 and older will nearly double by 2040. Experts warn that healthcare systems are currently ill-equipped to manage the unique age-related comorbidities and biological challenges faced by this aging population.
Why it matters
As HIV patients live longer, the global healthcare burden shifts from acute infection management to complex, long-term geriatric care.
The number of people with HIV worldwide who are 50 or older is likely to almost double by 2040, skyrocketing from 11.5m to 20.2m, a new report from The Lancet , presented last week in Rio de Janeiro at the 26th International Aids Conference , warned.
At that stage, said the authors, the numbers would represent more than half of all people with HIV, and pose new challenges for health systems unprepared for their specific needs, reports Business Day .
More than 95% of these people will be in low- and middle-income countries. In South Africa, the number is projected to rise from 2.3m (HIV+ over-50s) to 3.9m.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in